Thinking of getting an RV - lots of questions

[rvnoob]

Hi folks. As the title suggests we are thinking of getting a RV and have tons of questions. Hoping some folks will actually read all this and maybe offer some advice 🙂

We want to travel, but having dogs makes it tough, we don't want to leave them in a strange kennel full of fleas or guilt friends/family into dogsitting (thus making us have to return the favor!).. and they're our kids so of course we want to bring them too. We probably won't go out camping so much as use it for road trips and not needing to get a hotel. Also I run a company on the side and would like to use it to attend conventions where hotel rooms are really expensive, but parking is cheap.

We don't need one of those big busses, but we do want something that's real nice (not luxury, but nice). Looking around a lot of manufacturer websites I think something in the 30 foot range would be good. I like the idea of the kinds that have bunk beds off to the side.. we'd use the bottom bunk for our dogs and the top probably for storage. One floor plan I really like is the new winebago brave 31 foot version that looks like it isn't out yet. I think I just like that the TV is actually in front of the sofa instead of making you look sideways to watch it like every other RV. I also like the minnie winnie with the bunk beds. There's a place nearby that rents RVs so I thought we'd try renting one for a weekend to see if we like it. It's called cruse america, are they any good?

Anyway... about the class C vs A.. I'm guessing it means with a class C I just need a normal class C drivers license and it's a lot like driving a big van? But for class A I need a class A license and it's like driving a bus or big truck? I just have a normal driver's license, is it more based on the size and weight and I'm going to need to get a truck driver's license? I kind of don't want to, but if I have to, I can... So if we went with a minnie winnie or similar, I could use my standard license, but a Brave or similar I'd need a new license?

Do RVs get hot in the summer like a car does? We require air conditioning and lots of it 🙂 The AC runs off of your generator (or your truck engine?), and heat runs off of propane? Or can propane also power stuff? We have a backup generator at home for when the lights go out, that runs off our household propane tank.

Say we wanted to leave the RV and go see a movie or a museum or casino or whatever, and we're going to be gone for a couple of hours when it's 98 degrees outside.. Can you leave your generator going 24/7 even if you're not there so the dogs will be ok? I imagine it's a really bad idea to leave anything running in your RV unattended.. or would it be ok?

Also about generators, just from average use how long can they last on a full tank? Do they use your RV gas tank or do they have their own? If you're out "boondocking" but you want to watch tv at night and run the AC, can you run your generator 24/7 or is that just asking for it to have a short life span?

I watched a youtube video where a young couple was raving about their composting toilet.. are they any good? I'm not looking forward to the idea of pumping a weeks worth of poo into a teeny hole in the ground, but I guess it's a necessary evil. For your average use in most 30 foot style RVs how long can 2 people and a couple of dogs go on a full tank of water and stuff, just taking a quick daily shower and general use? We'd like to be able to go off the grid for a few days at a time, without having to leave to refill anything half way through our trip... though for really long trips I imagine we could go a few days in the wild and then hit a RV camp sight to refill and do laundry for a day and then go back out?

Do you always have to have dinette? Every single RV seems to have them. I usually carry 8 or 9 spare tires with me everywhere I go, it's hard squeezing into some restaurant booths so I doubt I'd fit into any RV dinette. I do kind of like the idea of a front seat that spins around and there's just 1 bench for the other side of the booth, but there doesn't seem to be too many RVs like that, not that I've seen anyway.

When you buy a RV, is it basically the same process like buying a car? I hate haggling 🙂 Is it true you can write off some of it on your taxes since it's treated like a home? And if I use it for my business, can I write off stuff for that too, like it was a home office that happens to have wheels too so I could also write off gas and stuff? When you get a loan, is it more like a car loan where it's just around 5 years? Or long like a mortgage?

That should do it for now, I'm sure I'll have tons more questions later. Thanks for reading this far 🙂

[bigred1cav]

rvnoob wrote:
Hi folks. As the title suggests we are thinking of getting a RV and have tons of questions. Hoping some folks will actually read all this and maybe offer some advice 🙂

We want to travel, but having dogs makes it tough, we don't want to leave them in a strange kennel full of fleas or guilt friends/family into dogsitting (thus making us have to return the favor!).. and they're our kids so of course we want to bring them too. We probably won't go out camping so much as use it for road trips and not needing to get a hotel. Also I run a company on the side and would like to use it to attend conventions where hotel rooms are really expensive, but parking is cheap.

We don't need one of those big busses, but we do want something that's real nice (not luxury, but nice). Looking around a lot of manufacturer websites I think something in the 30 foot range would be good. I like the idea of the kinds that have bunk beds off to the side.. we'd use the bottom bunk for our dogs and the top probably for storage. One floor plan I really like is the new winebago brave 31 foot version that looks like it isn't out yet. I think I just like that the TV is actually in front of the sofa instead of making you look sideways to watch it like every other RV. I also like the minnie winnie with the bunk beds. There's a place nearby that rents RVs so I thought we'd try renting one for a weekend to see if we like it. It's called cruse america, are they any good?

Anyway... about the class C vs A.. I'm guessing it means with a class C I just need a normal class C drivers license and it's a lot like driving a big van? But for class A I need a class A license and it's like driving a bus or big truck?(A not as difficult to drive as you think)(A not as difficult to drive as you think)
I just have a normal driver's license, is it more based on the size and weight and I'm going to need to get a truck driver's license? depends on your state requirements

I kind of don't want to, but if I have to, I can... So if we went with a minnie winnie or similar, I could use my standard license, but a Brave or similar I'd need a new license?

Do RVs get hot in the summer like a car does? We require air conditioning and lots of it 🙂 The AC runs off of your generator (or your truck engine?), and heat runs off of propane? Or can propane also power stuff? We have a backup generator at home for when the lights go out, that runs off our household propane tank.

Coach air runs off electricity, many refers run on propane or electric.

Say we wanted to leave the RV and go see a movie or a museum or casino or whatever, and we're going to be gone for a couple of hours when it's 98 degrees outside.. Can you leave your generator going 24/7 even if you're not there so the dogs will be ok? I imagine it's a really bad idea to leave anything running in your RV unattended.. or would it be ok?

Bad idea. exhaust may be problem run off electric hookup at park

Also about generators, just from average use how long can they last on a full tank? Do they use your RV gas tank or do they have their own? If you're out "boondocking" but you want to watch tv at night and run the AC, can you run your generator 24/7 or is that just asking for it to have a short life span?

Get specs on generator

I watched a youtube video where a young couple was raving about their composting toilet.. are they any good? I'm not looking forward to the idea of pumping a weeks worth of poo into a teeny hole in the ground, but I guess it's a necessary evil. For your average use in most 30 foot style RVs how long can 2 people and a couple of dogs go on a full tank of water and stuff, just taking a quick daily shower and general use? We'd like to be able to go off the grid for a few days at a time, without having to leave to refill anything half way through our trip... though for really long trips I imagine we could go a few days in the wild and then hit a RV camp sight to refill and do laundry for a day and then go back out?

A few days is comfortable. Water is your problem. Dumping is another. DO NOT DUMP ANYWHERE BUT DUMP STATION, aside from being filthy behavior it is criminal.

Do you always have to have dinette? Every single RV seems to have them. I usually carry 8 or 9 spare tires with me everywhere I go, it's hard squeezing into some restaurant booths so I doubt I'd fit into any RV dinette. I do kind of like the idea of a front seat that spins around and there's just 1 bench for the other side of the booth, but there doesn't seem to be too many RVs like that, not that I've seen anyway.

When you buy a RV, is it basically the same process like buying a car? I hate haggling 🙂 Is it true you can write off some of it on your taxes since it's treated like a home? And if I use it for my business, can I write off stuff for that too, like it was a home office that happens to have wheels too so I could also write off gas and stuff? When you get a loan, is it more like a car loan where it's just around 5 years? Or long like a mortgage?

Hire someone to negotiate for you.

That should do it for now, I'm sure I'll have tons more questions later. Thanks for reading this far 🙂

[ncrowley]

Sorry to keep pushing you to search the forum, but there is a LOT of discussions about diesel vs gas. I think you would get a lot of great information by looking at those discussions. It is not a simple decision.

[rvnoob]

Thanks for the info 🙂

I guess I shouldn't worry about gas mileage in a RV .. 🙂 but, will I generally be better off with diesel or gas or is it a wash? Diesel seems like a pricier RV and around here it costs about 70-80 cents more per gallon and that would really add up in a 80 gallon tank 🙂 But will the better gas mileage make it end up about the same? And with that in mind would you be able to run your generator longer too?

Or would gas be a better option overall? And, would I use just regular gas or do you need premium?

I know Diesel also has better power, but I don't think I'll ever climb the rockies in my RV. We have mountains here in PA, but they're not as big 🙂 Plus I imagine we'll be trying to find more for shore type areas here on the east cost, since that's more our kind of thing. Based on looks and floor plans alone so far I can't decide between a class C or A, I like the winnebago minnie winnie and and the new brave looks fun. We have a big dealer kind of nearby so we might stop by one of these weekends and look around

[ncrowley]

You will want to level the RV for comfort as well as for the refrigerator.

Yes, you can run the generator while you are driving. You may want to run the generator while driving if it is hot. That way you can use the house air conditioners. If it is really hot, the air conditioner in the front of the RV may not be adequate.

There have been a lot of discussions about covers, so I suggest that you search the forums for those discussions.

I do not RV in the NE, but I rarely stop in RV parks that are fun centers. I am able to easily find basic parks with full hookups.

[ol__yeller]

Leveling is primarily for the fridge but most folks like to sleep level and if the tilt is too much it makes cooking difficult. It also helps you fill your waste tanks properly and completely.

You can run the genny while driving and it makes sense to do so. You want it to be under load so run the AC or a bunch of lights while exercising it.

Covering can be a pain but if you are only going out 4 or 5 times a year it won't be that bad.

I'll leave comments about camping in PA to those who have done it. I'm pretty far away.

[rvnoob]

Ah ok, so leveling is really just for the fridge? If we ended up with a more expensive model that had a residential fridge, then we don't need to worry about that?

I could take it out for a spin once a month.. so for the generator I just have to turn that on and leave it going for 30 minutes? I guess the generator won't be going while I'm out driving? Kill 2 birds with 1 stone 🙂

We would probably end up having to store it outside so I guess we would look into getting a cover. I imagine they are a nightmare to put on unless you're a giant?

Are there any good RV parks that just have hookups but aren't like family fun centers? Seems like all the ones I'm finding online have pools and arcades we won't use and we'd like to be in more quiet secluded places. Any good sites anyone can recommend for finding good camp grounds? I've mostly just been googling and looking around my tri state area. I think in general we will probably be sticking to middle-upper-east-coast.. PA, NJ, MD, DE, lower NY. I would prefer more boondocking style in a nice out of the way place, but I know my girlfriend will want all the amenities, so she wins by default 🙂

[ol__yeller]

rvnoob wrote:


Do all RVs have to be level or is that a class A thing? And why do they need to be level anyway, for your water tanks? What if I'm "boondocking" in the mountains and there's just no kind of level area?

Since we probably won't be using it in the winter months. I would say probably from around october to april, and realistically we would probably just take it out for a few long weekends maybe 3-4 tiles a year. Is it bad to let your RV sit that long? Do I need to do any kind of general maintenance while it's sitting around? or do I have to go drive it around the block once a month to make sure it's all working ok?

I found a self storage place nearby that stores RVs, it's about $50 a month for outside and $150 for inside. Is it worth storing inside? That might end up being a little too pricey for us.

If the rig has an RV fridge then leveling is important. The level has to be reasonable for the absorption refrigeration to work and not get damaged. If you can't get the unit reasonably level, then don't run the fridge. I guess you can use ice to keep things cool but I have never not been able to level my unit.

All things mechanical need to be exercised to keep them in good working condition. 20 minutes or more, once a month is sufficient to keep everything lubricated, warmed up and the tires from getting flat spots. This means a 20 minute drive, not a 20 minute idle. During this time the generator, if so equipped, should be run for at least 30 minutes under a load. Others may say that they winterize and then run in the spring but it appears that your RV will have long periods of just sitting. If you choose that route be sure to use a fuel stabilizer like Stay-Bil to keep your fuel supply fresh. Be sure to run the genny and get the stabilzer into it as well. Keep the fuel tank full and check the RV often for rodent infestation. I had it happen twice with no food whatsoever in the rig.

Inside storage if preferable to outside storage and it all depends upon the size of your wallet. I store mine outside but under an RV cover and all my RVs, past and present looked like new.

[ncrowley]

We want to travel, but having dogs makes it tough

We love the RV because it allows us to take the dog. He loves traveling and considers the RV an extension of home.

We don't need one of those big busses, but we do want something that's real nice

I would spend lot of time looking at floorplans and types of RVs before making a decision. Try and think about what it would be like to spend a lot of time in the RV. We purchased a trailer that was just too small for us and the dogs and watching the TV caused you to be at a strange angle.

Anyway... about the class C vs A.. I'm guessing it means with a class C I just need a normal class C drivers license and it's a lot like driving a big van? But for class A I need a class A license and it's like driving a bus or big truck? I just have a normal driver's license, is it more based on the size and weight and I'm going to need to get a truck driver's license? I kind of don't want to, but if I have to, I can... So if we went with a minnie winnie or similar, I could use my standard license, but a Brave or similar I'd need a new license?

The license issue depends on the state. I live in Utah and I do not need a special license. In New Mexico, you just needed to get a letter on your license - no test, nothing. You need to check the rules in your state.

Do RVs get hot in the summer like a car does? We require air conditioning and lots of it 🙂 The AC runs off of your generator (or your truck engine?), and heat runs off of propane? Or can propane also power stuff?

The air conditioners run off AC, so you will need to either be plugged in or run your generator. If you like the RV cool, I would get one with good insulation, double paned windows and 15K air conditioners. The RV is generally heated through propane. Propane is generally used for cooking, heating hot water and keeping the refrigerator cold while you are not hooked up to AC. You can also heat hot water using AC. I say "generally" because there are some all electric RVs where there is no propane anywhere in the RV. They have large battery banks to keep things going.

Say we wanted to leave the RV and go see a movie or a museum or casino or whatever, and we're going to be gone for a couple of hours when it's 98 degrees outside.. Can you leave your generator going 24/7 even if you're not there so the dogs will be ok?

Yes, you can run the generator. If you are in a campground, you are hooked up to power so that is not an issue.

Also about generators, just from average use how long can they last on a full tank? Do they use your RV gas tank or do they have their own? If you're out "boondocking" but you want to watch tv at night and run the AC, can you run your generator 24/7 or is that just asking for it to have a short life span?

Some generators run off propane and some off gas and some off diesel. You need to find out how the fuel is supplied in the RV you are looking at. In my diesel Class A, the generator uses diesel from the coach fuel tank. Generators like to be run under load. Since I do not do much boondocking, I run the generator under load for about 45 minutes each month to keep it happy.

I watched a youtube video where a young couple was raving about their composting toilet.. are they any good? I'm not looking forward to the idea of pumping a weeks worth of poo into a teeny hole in the ground, but I guess it's a necessary evil. For your average use in most 30 foot style RVs how long can 2 people and a couple of dogs go on a full tank of water and stuff, just taking a quick daily shower and general use? We'd like to be able to go off the grid for a few days at a time, without having to leave to refill anything half way through our trip... though for really long trips I imagine we could go a few days in the wild and then hit a RV camp sight to refill and do laundry for a day and then go back out?

How long you can go is based on the RV and how you use the water. Class A's generally have much larger tanks than Class Cs. I have a Class A and we can go about 5 days without needing to hook up. But we have a 100 gallon water tank and large grey and black tanks. In my trailer, we could only go about 2 days.

Do you always have to have dinette?

Pretty much. You talked about the seats that spin around - all the Class A's I have seen have that.

[rvnoob]

I don't really have a campground to walk around anyway 🙂 Not yet anyway. The last time I was camping was 1993 and that was the low tech tent kind of camping. Prior to that I used to go all the time, back in boy scouts we went once a month, usually in PA and MD. Now I want to get back out there 🙂 My girlfriend's neighbor has a huge 5th wheel that they take out a few times a year, we don't really know them though. Been meaning to go chat with him.

Here's some other new questions I came up with.

Do all RVs have to be level or is that a class A thing? And why do they need to be level anyway, for your water tanks? What if I'm "boondocking" in the mountains and there's just no kind of level area?

Since we probably won't be using it in the winter months. I would say probably from around october to april, and realistically we would probably just take it out for a few long weekends maybe 3-4 tiles a year. Is it bad to let your RV sit that long? Do I need to do any kind of general maintenance while it's sitting around? or do I have to go drive it around the block once a month to make sure it's all working ok?

I found a self storage place nearby that stores RVs, it's about $50 a month for outside and $150 for inside. Is it worth storing inside? That might end up being a little too pricey for us.

[EricGT]

Dick_B wrote:
Didn't read the long post but suggest renting a few times to be sure it's the lifestyle you like.
Go around the campground and ask any and all owners what they like/don't like about their rig. People love to talk about their toys.

Why even respond then?
He is asking for opinions in here so he doesn't need to walk around the campground. smh

[frankdamp]

This is purely a personal opinion.

Our first RV was a 26'Class C. I had problems remembering that the "house" was wider than the cab and I hated that damn geat box in upward field of view. It was a total waste for us as we're both too claustrophobic to sleep up there.

We love our Class A, but we're going to have to sell it because of cost escalation and our increasing age. It will be on the market in a couple of weeks, once I've fixed a couple of minor issues.

[filthy_beast]

darsben wrote:
Your DOGS could be a sort of problem as some parks have breed restrictions and limits on the number of dogs (usually 2) just so you are aware.
Leaving the generator running some places is not allowed as some federal, state and local parks have generator use hours and a few actually ban usage. It is also a bad idea when you are gone if the dogs are in the rig. Genny stops dogs cook

Also be aware that there are a lot of campgrounds including state and federal have rules about leaving dogs unattended. Although I have seen a lot of people post that their dogs are the exception and can be left alone.

[Dick_B]

Didn't read the long post but suggest renting a few times to be sure it's the lifestyle you like.
Go around the campground and ask any and all owners what they like/don't like about their rig. People love to talk about their toys.

[rvnoob]

Thanks for the info. Yes I'm just not a fan of the dinettes mostly because I'm a big fella and I'm afraid I won't fit. I'd be fine with a chair and bench for the other side, or 2 fixed chairs with a cafe sized table or something like that. I guess dinettes are just traditional and thats why they all have them. I'll keep looking around the internet and see what's out there. We probably wouldn't be buying till next year anyway. We're going to plan a spring getaway for next year and rent a RV and see how we like it.

We would probably mostly be traveling in the spring and fall since those are our favorite times of year. Winter we like to stay in and be toasty, summer we like to stay in and be chilly. I think in the end it will primarily be for me to travel to game conventions for my company. There are a few major ones each year and I think it would be much more convenient to just stay in a RV rather than the overpriced downtown hotels. It's crazy, they charge $125 a night any day of the year, except during the convention when they charge $400. So it would be great if there's some way to write it off as a business expense. I'll have to see what my accountant says.

[BarneyS]

Many of your questions are answered in our Forum FAQ which is located in the blue bar at the top of this forum and also stuck as the first post in this forum. It is a collection of links to various threads over the years that have been asked on just about every RV topic.

I would spend a few hours looking it over. I am sure it will give you a lot of help.
Good luck.:)P
Barney